Vane type flowmeter



March 24, 1953 A. A. ZUEHLKE 2,632,329

VANE TYPE FLOWMETER Filed June 12, 1951 IE. I

47 Fig. 3

/ ARTHUR A. ZUEHLKE INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 24, 1953 2,632,329 VANE TYPE FLOWMETER Arthur A.Zuehlke, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Taylor Instrument Companies,Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 12, 1951,Serial No. 231,110

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a vane type flowmeter.

In many processes, it is essentia1 that the flow of a liquid through atreating stage shall not deviate from a maximum and/or minimum velocity.For example in the pasteurization of milk, the milk should flow througha so-called holder tube at a velocity such that each particle of milkwill take at least fifteen seconds to travel through the tube. Such apasteurizing system is disclosed in the patent to Olson et al.2,522,796, granted September 19, 1950 to the common assignee of thisinvention.

The present invention has for its purpose, a velocity actuated deviceand/or indicator that is especially adapted for use in a pasteurizingsystem such as illustrated in the mentioned patent, although thisinvention is not limited t such use.

The various features and advantages of the invention will appear fromthe detailed description and claims when taken with the. drawing inwhich:

Fig 1 illustrates the device of this invention, connected in the holdertube of a pasteurizer, a portion of the device and the holder tube beingshown in section;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of a portion of the device taken at rightangles to Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic showing of a pneumatically-operated indicatorwith which the present device cooperates.

Referring to the drawings, the character H designates a piece of pipewhich may be the holder tube of a pasteurizing system, such asillustrated in the mentioned patent. This pipe has connected therein aT-coupling 5 provided at its upper side with an externally threadedT-conneotion 6' which defines a side passage opening into the mainpassageway through the coupling. The T- connection has an annularinternal shoulder 'i with a bevelled female seat 8 to receive theinverted cup-shaped plate 9 of the velocity actuated device of thepresent invention. This plate which has a central aperture, includes anintegral annular rim It) provided with a male bevelled seat H adapted tobe drawn into sealed metal-to-metal relation with the seat 3 by anysuitable fastening means. As herein illustrated this fastening meanscomprises an annular cap nut l2 which is provided at its margin with aninner flange i3 and an outer flange it. The edge of the inner flange l3engages the top of the plate 9 while the outer flange M is internallythreaded to engage the threaded connection 6 whereby the bevelled seats8 and H can be drawn into sealed relation.

The plate 9 carries a somewhat resilient annular metal diaphragm l5sealed at its periphery to the rim iii. The margin of the diaphragm atthe central opening therein, is sealed to the. rim [6 of a rigid disk H.The diaphragm l5 and the disk I! seal the opening into the side passageof the connection 15, when the parts are inoperative position as shownin Figs. 1 and 2. The lower surface of the disk I! has a straight kerfin which there is secured as by brazing, the edge it of a thin rigidvane E9, of the shape shown in Fig. 2. This vane is intended to extendacross the main passage through the coupling, almost closing the same.For example, if themain passage through the coupling, has an internaldiameter of two inches, the vane may have a clearance of .045 of an inchwith respect to the inner surface of the coupling and the diaphragm l5.Metal strip pivots 2 iv (Fig. 2) have their upper ends attached to theunder surface of the plate 5 and to the upper surface of disk ii, thestrips extending in a plane common to the principal plane of the vane.Thus these strips tend to flex about an axis thereon, that is inalinement with the main plane of the diaphragm it. However these stripshave sufficient lengthwise rigidity to prevent any substantial bulgingof the diaphragm toward the plate 9.

The upper surface of the disk I! has centrally secured thereto, thelower end of a rigid rod or bar 22 which extends upward through thecentral opening in plate 9 for a purpose to be described. The pressuredrop across the vane, generates a force which tends to swing the vaneabout the mentioned.- axis defined by the strips 2! with the resultantsmall swinging movement of the upper end of bar 22.

It has been mentioned that the vane substantially closes the passagethrough the coupling such that a substantial pressure drop is developedacross the vane by the liquid flow through the main passage in coupling5. If, as intended, the

vane swings so slightly in. response to the flov:

ing liquid, that it essentially remains in a stationary position, thepressure drop across the vane will vary with the rate of the change ofnow, according to known physical laws. Therefore, the force exerted bythe fluid against the vane ii! of the presentdevice, varies according tothe rate of flow. This force Whichis equal to the product of the droppressure across the vane and the surface area of the. vane, may beapplied to a record.

ing, indicating or controlling mechanism to Op late-the same. This forcemay be applied directly to; such m echanism or be used in a pneumatic..-f r e-ba n e a em nt w er m a ounter balancing force is generated whichis substantially equal to the force exerted by the vane.

If the device, as shown in Fig. l, is used without the usual pneumatic,force balancing unit, the diaphragm I5 and the pivot strips 2! willserve the purpose of providing a force to counterbalance the forceapplied to the vane by the flowing liquid. The force constants of theseal diaphragm i5 and strip pivots 2| should be so selected that thesmall motion of vane l9 and it attached bar 22 is just large enough todevelop satisfactory energy to operate a recording, indicating orcontrolling mechanism. In such an arrangement the counter-balancingforce is a measureof the rate of flow. In the device of Fig. l, a hollowtube 23 attached to the top of the plategS, surrounds the bar 22 andprojects through the opening in the to inversely control the pressure ofthe air supplied to the pipe 46, leading to an operating bellows (notshown) of an indicating and/0r controlling instrument 4! to actuate thesame. The pressure of the air in pipe M5 is communicated through branchpipe 46A to the bellows 48. The operation of the mechanism justdescribed, operates until the force developed by the bellows 48 is equalto the force developed by the upper end of the rod 22.

What I claim is:

l. A device adapted for use with an integral unithaving a straightportion defining a main cap nut I2. The upper end of the tube 23 carriesa gage G having a dial 24 suitably graduated such as in, units of timerequired for the liquid to flow through the holdertube' An index 25 isrotatable on asuitable staff (not shown) to swing over the graduationsonthe dial. This stall is provided with a well-known pinion (not shown)to be engaged by the teeth on the sector arm 2%; Arm 255 which ispivoted at 2?, is slotted, at 28 near one end to receive a pivot pin 29.Pin 29 is carried bylink 35 which connects the upper end of the bar 22-to sector arm 26. y

In theconstruction of Figs. 1 and 2, when there is an increase in thevelocity of the liquid flowing through pipe H, the vane. l9 will swinga, very small amountin a clockwise direction with the result that bar 22acting through link 36 and sector arm 26, moves the index 25 in aclockwise direction in correspondence with the changing velocity. v

In the pasteurizing system disclosed in the V mentioned patent,provision is made to stop the milk pump when the milk is pumped throughthe holder tube at an excessive rate. purpose the present gage isequipped with a snapacting electrical switch 3 I, the button 32 of whichis engaged by the sector arm 26 in a predetermined position thereof.Thus when the velocity of flow of the liquid through the main passagereaches a given value the sector arm engages the button 32 to open theswitch 3| whereby the circuit of the pump motor (nctshown) is opened tostop the milk pump (likewise not shown). It will be understood thatbutton 32 limits the clockwise movement of the index. However the use ofthis switch is optional.

If the present device is to be operated on the pneumatic force balanceprinciple instead of the mechanical force balance arrangement 'justdescribed, the construction diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3replaces the portion of Fig- 1 above the broken line X-X. In thepneumatic force balance arrangement, the upper end of the rod 22, whichis actuated by the vane It, carries a leaf spring 48. This spring hasits upper end secured to an intermediate baiTle spring El which is fixedmounted at its lower end whereby the slight motion of the upper end ofthe bar '22 applies the motion of the upper end of the baflie 4L.

The upper end of the baflie' cooperates with a nozzle 42 to control theescape through the nozzle of compressed 'air supplied thereto throughorifice or restriction 43 from a compressed air source. As the escape ofthe compressed air' through the nozzle is vaii'e'd by the position ofthe baffle, the.

back pressure in the nozzle pipe '44 is correspond- 'ingly' varied. As aresult of this, the capsular chamber 45 of the relay air valve V isoperated for measuring the velocity of flow of a liquid through saidmain passage, said side connection being externally threaded and havingan internal female seat located at and surrounding the junction ofsaidside passage with said main passage, said device comprising an annularplate having a peripheral flange provided with a male seat adapted tomate with said female seat to provide a liquid tight sealtherebetween, acap nut engaging the external threads on said side connection andprovided with means adapted to force the plate toward the female seat, asomewhat resilient diaphragm sealed to said peripheral flange andextending in a plane parallel to that of said plate, a rigid membermounted on a central part of the diaphragm, a rigid vane mounted on oneside of said member to extend transversely of said passage and tosubstantially close the space defined by the diaphragm and the relatedportion of the straight passage, an element secured to the other side ofsaid member, and indicating means controlled by said element.

For this 2. A device adapted for use with an integral unit having astraight portion defining a main passage and having a side connectiondefining a sldepassage communicating with the main passage, formeasuring the velocity of flow of a liquid through said main passage,said side connection being externally threaded and having an internalfemale seat, located at and surrounding the junction of said sidepassage with said main passage, said devicecomprising an annular platehaving a peripheral flange provided with a male seat adapted to matewith said female seat to provide a liquid tight seal therebetween, anannular cap nut engaging the external threads on said side connectionand provided with means adapted to versely of said main passage and tosubstantial-.

ly close the'space defined by the diaphragm and therelated portion ofthe straight passage, a

rigid bar secured to the other side of said Blember and projectingthrough thelannular cap nut,

and indicating means controlled by said bar.

3. A device adapted for'us'e with'an integral unit having a straightportion defining a main passage and having a side connection defining aside passage communicating the main passage' for measuring the velccityof fiow of, a liquid through said main passage, said side connectionbeing externally threaded and having an internal femaleseatlocated atand surrounding the junction of; said side p'assage with said mainpassage, said dev ce comprising an annular plate having" aperipheralflange provided 'withamaleseat adapted to mate with said female seat toprovide a liquid tight seal therebetween, a cap nut engaging theexternal threads on said side connection and provided with means adaptedto force the plate toward the female seat, a somewhat fiexible diaphragmsealed to said peripheral flange and extending in a plane parallel tothat of said plate, a rigid member mounted on a central part of thediaphragm, a flat rigid vane mounted on one side of said member toextend transversely of said main passage and to substantiaily close thespace deined by the diaphragm and the related portion of the straightpassage, at least one pivot strip extending generally in the plane ofsaid vane, said pivot strip having its ends respectively connected tosaid plate and to said member, an element secured to the other side ofsaid member, and indicating means controlled by said element.

ARTHUR A. ZUEHLKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 881,586 Howe-Gould Mar. 10,1908 2,024,571 Gent Dec. 17, 1935 2,037,575 Hamilton et a1 Apr. 14, 19362,522,796 Olson et a1 Sept. 19, 1950

